Home Remedies for Bruises
A bruise is caused by the pooling of blood from damaged blood vessels and capillaries beneath the skin. Most of the time, bruises are caused by a blow to the area that doesn’t break the skin. Home remedies for bruises focus on reducing the pain, bringing down any swelling, and reducing the discoloration caused by pooled blood.
For the most part, you can’t stop a bruise from forming. You focus instead on minimizing the damage and helping your body to recover more quickly so that the discoloration fades more quickly. Simple ways to do this include applying ice packs (wrapped in towels to protect sensitive skin) and drinking lots of fluids. Of course, certain home remedies can be much more helpful in recovering from a bruise quickly.
The Chinese prepare a salve from one part cayenne pepper and five parts Vaseline. To make sure they are well mixed, the Vaseline is gently warmed while the cayenne is stirred in. When the mixture is cooled, it is then applied to the bruised area. Make sure you don’t get in a hurry and apply while it is still warm, as the heat may actually increase bruising.
Teas made from comfrey root or buchu are also good home remedies for bruising. Let the tea cool, then soak a soft rag in it, wring it out and apply to the bruise for fifteen to twenty minutes at a time, changing the dressing frequently so that it is always cool to the touch.
Witch hazel is also an excellent home remedy for bruising, as it reduces swelling and shrinks the blood vessels. Soak a cloth in witch hazel and let it be until the witch hazel has evaporated. You can re-apply this several times a day if it is convenient.
St. John’s Wort tincture (not tablets or crushed leaves) can also help reduce the signs of bruising. Add some of the tincture (available through most holistic health practitioners) to a fragrance and additive free cream or lotion and gently massage the bruised area with it.
If you’re looking for relief from bruising that will work overnight, try ginger root. Crush an unpeeled root and apply to the bruises, covering loosely with a cloth bandage or medical wrap. You can go to sleep with this on each night, then wash the area with cool water during the day. Like most home remedies for bruises, it may take a few days for the bruise to fade when using ginger root.
Your refrigerator crisper has two excellent home remedies for bruising. Cabbage leaves can make wonderful poultices when applied directly to the bruised area. Change these frequently as the leaves get warm so that you always have cool cabbage leaves on the injured area. If you don’t have cabbage, try crushing some fresh parsley and mixing with a few drops of olive oil, then smearing over the bruises. You can also use crushed, fresh comfrey leaves the same way. These poultices or plasters will help reduce swelling, ease pain and minimize the discoloration.
Home Remedy to Prevent Bruising
There is no way to completely avoid bruising, but you can minimize the severity of bruising if you pay attention to what you eat. Vitamin K and Alfalfa are two very important substances that contain clotting factors, which help prevent excessive bleeding at the site of a bruise.
Vitamin C strengthens the walls of blood vessels so that they are less likely to rupture or leak when a blow is inflicted. Eating lots of vitamin C rich foods such as citrus fruits or taking a daily vitamin C supplement will keep your blood vessels strong and reduce the chance and size of bruises when you are injured.